by Phil Houseal | May 17, 2018 | All Articles, History, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy, Venue
May 16, 2018–It is iconic. Especially for a door. Come back with me to 1973. A relative newcomer to the music scene named Jerry Jeff Walker decided to record a live album at a little town in Texas called Luckenbach. That record contained future classics such as...
by Phil Houseal | May 10, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy
May 9, 2018–Not again. Once more, someone was on the phone asking me if I would be in a production. Readers of this column know I am a reluctant thespian. I was not born with the “let’s turn the barn into a theater and put on a show” gene. Even so, I seem to end up in...
by Phil Houseal | May 3, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music
May 3, 2018–I was surprised when Kathy Mattea told me that to find her voice, she had to stop being “Kathy Mattea.” What did that mean? “It’s what I tell my students: do people feel something when you sing this song? Can you just be honest as a singer and that be...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 26, 2018 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
April 25, 2018–Over the years, most Hill Country music stores have gone the way of the Theremin. The reasons have varied, not least of which is the competition from the Internet. But musicians prefer to pluck and pick, not hunt and click. That is the rationale for...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 19, 2018 | All Articles, Music, People of the Hill Country, Philosophy
April 18, 2018–I was backstage at a recent show speaking with the child of a national recognized performer. You would know who this is, but since I wasn’t conducting an official interview I won’t reveal names. “At age 24, my dad had won a Grammy,” this person said....
by Phil Houseal | Apr 12, 2018 | All Articles, Food, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
April 11, 2018–Wouldn’t it be fun to find a place away from the crowded downtown, where you can share a four-course fixed-menu meal with interesting companions, while listening to live acoustic music? Those are the reasons Joe and Sharon Grimes started their Second...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 5, 2018 | All Articles, Food, Music, People of the Hill Country, Venue
April 3, 2018–Whenever family from north of Willow Creek came to town looking for an authentic Fredericksburg Main Street experience, I took them to the Altdorf Restaurant. Nothing said “gemutlichkeit” like the outdoor biergarten, shaded barrel tables, smiling...
by Phil Houseal | Apr 5, 2018 | All Articles, Philosophy, PR Tips
Mar 28, 2018–I’m often asked to help market events. The temptation as a consultant is to justify the label of “expert” by making what you do seem complicated. But I’ve learned the shortest path to results lies in simplifying the concepts and flattening the process....
by Phil Houseal | Mar 22, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, People of the Hill Country
Mar 21, 2018–During the mid-1800s, the Texas Hill Country produced talented men and women, particularly in the fields of ranching, industry, cattle, and the military. Yet many still don’t know it was also the birthplace of a classical music composer who became a...
by Phil Houseal | Mar 15, 2018 | All Articles, Events, Music, Venue
March 14, 2018–Guy Forsyth gave an unexpected response when asked what inspired his on-stage performance style. “Vaudeville,” he replied during our phone conversation. “If you look back, a lot of our favorite musicians were folks hitting their stride in the...
